The Best New Children’s & YA Books of February
by the Brightly Editors
February may be the shortest month of the year, but there is no shortage of fantastic new books to read! From picture books to novels, cozy to high-stakes, this month welcomed oodles of must-read books for children, tweens, and teens. We’ve gathered the best and most exciting new books of February for you. Keep reading to discover heartfelt picture books, breathtaking adventures, and fast-paced fantasy.
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Picture Books
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You Are a Wildlife Warrior!: Saving Animals & the Planet
Buy from:Bindi Irwin, daughter of the famous crocodile hunter Steve Irwin, takes young readers on a tour of the Australia Zoo in this picture book. Kids will love learning about the unique wildlife in Australia, their habitats, and their lives in the wild. Readers of all ages will feel inspired to do their part in maintaining and helping animals, no matter where they live.
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It’s Not Easy Being a Leprechaun
Buy from:Get your kids into the St. Patrick’s Day spirit with this sweet picture book about a little leprechaun who doesn’t fit in with his peers. Unhappy with his life as a leprechaun, little Connor O’Connor tries out various identities to see which one fits. However, he soon learns that the only identity he needs is his own. Children will enjoy reading this humorous story about embracing yourself.
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Rocket Beams, Lunar Dreams
Buy from:In this companion book to Rocket Ship, Solo Trip, Rocket prepares for her second journey into space — to the moon! When she learns that Lander, the robot she must transport to the moon, feels nervous about the trip, she does her best to help calm his nerves. This adorable book deals with themes of disappointment, friendship, and managing fears.
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Worm Makes a Sandwich
Buy from:Learn how compost works with the help of an eager little worm! The worm wants to make you a sandwich but to do so, he must first eat some garbage with his friends. Then, they poop and poop until the compost can be spread in the garden. Before you know it, plump, delicious vegetables are ripe and ready for your sandwich.
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Astronaut Hayley’s Brave Adventure
Buy from:Based on the author’s real-life experiences, this inspiring picture book is perfect for children with big dreams. Hayley has learned how to face her fears, from first-day jitters to facing down a cancer diagnosis. But when she gets invited to become an astronaut and go into space, she faces her biggest challenge yet.
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Tíos and Primos
Buy from:This beautiful book captures the love of one large extended family in Honduras. On her first trip there, a little girl feels overwhelmed by the large number of relatives and her limited Spanish. But as the family embraces her, the girl finds her place and grows to feel like she belongs. This sweet book is perfect for any child dealing with language barriers or who has international family members.
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Little Freddie Two Pants
Buy from:From the author of The Day the Crayons Quit comes a new giggle-worthy picture book about a dog who can’t decide how many pants to wear. With so many types of pants to wear (and questions of where to put them), what’s a dog to do? Readers of all ages will laugh along as the dog puzzles out his pants situation.
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Brave Buzzy Bee
Buy from:A little bee trains hard for an upcoming race. But when the big moment arrives, something unexpected threatens to throw the entire race off-course. With its adorable characters and charming story about true bravery, this book is an excellent addition to any child’s bookshelf.
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Cantaloupe and HoneyDo Bake a Cake
Buy from:Cantaloupe is an overly cautious melon, whereas HoneyDo confidently tackles every adventure that comes his way. In this book, the two melons team up to bake a cake. To be successful, they must work together and set aside their differences. Kids will laugh out loud at the melons’ misadventures in the kitchen.
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Chapter Books & Middle Grade
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Sweet Valley Twins: Sneaking Out
Buy from:Return to the world of Sweet Valley High with the latest graphic novel adaptation featuring everyone’s favorite twins, Jessica and Elizabeth! In this installment, the girls want to see their favorite band in concert but aren’t allowed to go. So, when Jessica decides to sneak out, Elizabeth must decide whether to join her sister or turn her in. Series fans and new readers alike will love the twins’ latest adventure!
(On sale: )
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A World Worth Saving
Buy from:Percy Jackson meets modern social issues in this fast-paced fantasy adventure for kids. After he comes out as trans, A’s parents force him to attend a weekly Save Our Sons and Daughters (SOSAD) meeting. However, when other kids start disappearing from the meetings, A discovers the program leader is an actual demon from Jewish mythology. Now, A faces the most significant choice of his life — risk everything to save a world that hates him or do nothing while soul-sucking demons destroy it.
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Grossology: The Science of Really Gross Things!
Buy from:Get grossed out with the 30th-anniversary edition of this classic science book. Filled with revolting facts, gag-worthy illustrations, and activities, this book will keep kids entertained and glued to the page. Kids who enjoy this book will also enjoy the other titles in this series, Homegrown Grossology and Nitty Gritty Grossology.
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It’s Watching
Buy from:Kids can get their fill of thrills and chills with Lindsay Currie’s spine-tingling novel! A haunted graveyard, sinister memes, and a race against time will keep kids reading well past bedtime. Three friends receive a bone-chilling meme from an unknown number after sneaking into a graveyard on Halloween night. As the messages keep coming and unnerving events pile up, the trio must figure out who is behind it all.
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Momo Arashima Breaks the Mirror of the Sun
Buy from:Don’t miss the final two installments in the Momo Arashima series! Enchanted artifacts, angry Shinto gods, monsters, and friendship combine in these unputdownable fantasy stories. Momo must figure out who or what is behind her classmates’s disappearances in Momo Arashima Breaks the Mirror of the Sun and retrieve an enchanted jewel for the goddess of death in Momo Arashima Duels the Queen of Death. With both books releasing in February, series fans will have enough reading material to carry them into next month!
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Hilo Book 11: The Great Space Iguana
Buy from:Graphic novel lovers will eagerly dive back into the world of Hilo with his latest adventure! D.J. is used to aliens crashlanding in his backyard, but when a giant space iguana appears, his world gets turned upside down — again. Now, D.J. and his friends must return the iguana to her home in space. But the task is filled with angry aliens, monsters, and challenges at every turn.
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The Labyrinth of Souls
Buy from:Get ready for a dark fantasy set at a magical boarding school! Social outcast Ix has the unusual ability to see monsters from the Labyrinth of Souls. As more and more creatures escape the Labyrinth, Ix gets recruited to join a group of other gifted kids who protect their kingdom from the Nightmares. With her new allies, Ix must take on the most dangerous Nightmare of all — a scarecrow named Jack.
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Max in the Land of Lies
Buy from:Young historical fiction enthusiasts have fallen in love with this action-packed series about a boy who becomes a British spy during World War II. In this sequel to Max in the House of Spies, Max sets out on his first mission for British intelligence while still looking for his missing parents. With the Nazis watching his every move, his double life becomes increasingly challenging.
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On Thin Ice
Buy from:Sibling rivalry takes to the ice in this middle grade novel about a pair of twins and the sports they love. Dex reluctantly agrees to become his sister’s figure skating partner when he gets cut from his hockey team. Phoebe isn’t thrilled about this arrangement either, and the twins must set aside their differences if they want to succeed.
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YA
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Dead Happy
Buy from:If you or your teen loved HappyHead, don’t miss the thrilling sequel! After surviving the trials at HappyHead, Seb joins the rest of the “winners” in another round of challenges, this time on a remote island. Seb joins forces with an old ally, searches for answers about a missing friend, and risks everything to shut down the experimental mental health facility.
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I Am the Cage
Buy from:Elisabeth hides away from the world (and herself) in a tiny cabin in Wisconsin. But when a blizzard hits the town, Elisabeth accepts help from a young sheriff named Noah. As Elisabeth opens up to Noah, she begins to process and heal from the medical trauma she experienced. This heartfelt and emotional novel is perfect for any reader who loves books with all the feels.
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The Otherwhere Post
Buy from:From the New York Times bestselling author of Hotel Magnifique comes another one-of-a-kind fantasy novel you won’t be able to set down. Maeve lives under a false identity to hide her connection to her criminal father. When she joins the Otherwhere Post and learns how to deliver enchanted letters to other realms, she takes the opportunity to investigate her father’s history. However, someone will do anything to stop her from discovering the truth. This fantasy mystery is a must-read!
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Make Good Trouble
Buy from:Get inspired to change the world with this illustrated guidebook to change-making! With over 70 stories of real people making a difference, YA readers will feel empowered to raise their voices and stand up for their beliefs. This book is an excellent choice for any young activist who wants to take a stand.
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